Rangel Tells Swansea He Wants ‘Pool Move

News has broken this morning via the Welsh media that Swansea right back Angel Rangel has informed the Championship club that he wants to make a move to Blackpool.

The news comes after Swansea carried a story on their official website yesterday stating that they had rejected Blackpool’s offer (believed to be £750,000) for the player.

However, following talks between Rangel, Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins and Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers, where Rangel expressed his desire to join the Seasiders, the club are now stating that ‘Pool’s offer has neither been accepted or rejected, but that they will probably have to offer more money to secure the player’s signature, but at the same time, nor are they miles away from Swansea’s valuation of the player.

The 27 year old former Terrassa player (signed by Swansea for just £10,000) is apparently well aware that the Seasiders are favourites for an immediate return to the Championship, but apparently also feels that at least one season in England’s top flight is too good an offer to turn down and that the ‘Pool would provide him with a shop window for bigger clubs.

And with the player out of contract in the summer, the Swans are loathe to lose him on a free, especially as funds at the Liberty Stadium are believed to be tight at the moment.

Speaking to the Welsh media from Swansea’s training camp in Holland, chairman Huw Jenkins said:

‘Angel has given us his views on where he sees himself at our club and in the future.

‘We discussed a variety of options ? Angel staying at the club until his contract runs out, Angel looking at a new proposal from us or, if we agree a fee, Angel speaking to Blackpool.

‘I think he feels that because of his age and the fact that he has been with us for a number of years, there’s an opportunity there [at Blackpool] that he would like to take advantage of.

‘That’s come over to us quite strongly and we are under no illusions as to where we stand with him.

‘The difficulty is that until we get the right offer on the table, Angel remains our player just like all the others.

‘If they want to pursue his signature, it’s up to Blackpool to keep the negotiations going.

‘They are not a million miles away and, as things stand, we will be talking to the player and his representatives quite a lot over the next few days.’

It is believed that Blackpool will have to move quickly to secure Rangel’s signing, not only because of Wigan’s reported interest, but also because Swansea have stated that they wish for any deal to be concluded before the start of the new Football League season in just seven days time as new Swans manager Brendan Rodgers has a desire to have a settled squad as soon as possible. Naturally, he also says that he wishes to keep hold of his best players, but in the case of Rangel, it would seem that he is fighting a losing battle.

Also potentially joining the Seasiders from Swansea will be forward Stephen Dobbie.

Dobbie starred for the Seasiders on loan last season and it is believed that manager Ian Holloway is desperate to make the deal a permanent one, and (remarkably) is said to have offered £750,000 for the player.

It is not yet clear whether ‘Pool’s offer has been accepted or rejected, but it is widely believed that a deal for the player should be pretty straightforward… then again, we thought the same about DJ!

The news emanating from Swansea this morning though will undoubtedly be a boost to Ian Holloway as he takes his depleted squad to Bristol City this afternoon for the club’s latest pre-season friendly.